Stripe Climate Goals

Stripe, the global payments and fintech platform, has become a notable leader in corporate climate responsibility. While many companies focus solely on emissions reductions, Stripe has distinguished itself through direct investments in carbon removal technologies, particularly Direct Air Capture (DAC), and by integrating sustainability into its business operations and services.

Committing to Climate Leadership

In 2020, Stripe launched its Stripe Climate initiative, committing to invest a percentage of revenue into carbon removal technologies. Rather than merely offsetting emissions, Stripe focuses on funding projects that permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, helping to accelerate the commercialization of emerging carbon removal solutions.

Stripe has partnered with over 25 carbon removal startups, spanning direct air capture, biochar, enhanced weathering, and soil carbon projects. By supporting early-stage ventures, Stripe helps scale the technologies that will be critical to achieving global climate targets.

Direct Air Capture and Carbon Removal Investments

Stripe has been a pioneer in funding DAC projects. Some of the key initiatives include:

• 1PointFive / Carbon Engineering: Supporting large-scale DAC operations that capture atmospheric CO₂ and store it permanently underground.
• Climeworks: Investing in modular DAC facilities that convert CO₂ into long-term storage solutions.
• Soil carbon and biochar projects: Complementing technology-driven removal with nature-based solutions to enhance carbon sequestration in ecosystems.

Stripe’s investments are science-based and permanent, ensuring that every dollar spent contributes to verifiable carbon removal.

Operational Sustainability

Beyond funding carbon removal, Stripe has implemented operational sustainability initiatives:

• Net-zero emissions for operations: All Stripe offices are powered by renewable energy or offset with high-quality carbon removal credits.
• Sustainable product design: Digital-first operations reduce resource consumption while supporting a global customer base.
• Encouraging ecosystem-wide adoption: Stripe provides tools for other businesses to integrate carbon removal into their operations, making it easier for startups and companies of all sizes to contribute to climate action.

Stripe Climate: Accelerating Market Adoption

Stripe’s approach is unique in that it treats carbon removal as an investment in the future. By buying early from emerging DAC and other CDR companies, Stripe helps de-risk technologies, reduce costs, and accelerate scalability. This proactive strategy ensures that carbon removal becomes a viable, market-ready solution to residual emissions worldwide.

Transparency and Accountability

Stripe maintains a high level of transparency, publishing annual updates on the projects it funds, the costs per ton of carbon removed, and the expected environmental impact. This accountability builds trust and provides a replicable model for other companies seeking to integrate carbon removal into their climate strategies.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Stripe is a leader in corporate carbon removal, challenges remain:

• Scaling DAC and CDR technologies to meet global climate needs
• Balancing investment across different removal pathways to diversify risk
• Ensuring permanence and verification for emerging carbon removal projects

Despite these challenges, Stripe’s approach demonstrates that corporate climate action can be both impactful and financially strategic, bridging the gap between technological innovation and environmental responsibility.

Conclusion

Stripe exemplifies how a technology company can lead on climate action. By focusing on carbon removal, funding emerging DAC and CDR startups, and promoting operational sustainability, Stripe is not only mitigating its own footprint but actively shaping the future of global climate solutions.

Through strategic investment, transparency, and scalable solutions, Stripe sets a standard for businesses that want to tackle climate change while fostering innovation in emerging climate technologies.